If you’re a savvy natural foods shopper (and we’re sure you are), you know that choosing the best products from among hundreds in your local store can be fun but overwhelming. That’s why, for our first-ever Best Bite awards, we asked experienced natural retailers, manufacturers, and you to share the picks that make healthy living more delicious. After tasting samples and scrutinizing ingredients, we chose these winners, with a particular focus on specialty diet categories such as gluten free, vegan, and raw. All of them earn distinction for delivering healthy, whole foods using high-quality sourcing standards. We hope you recognize your standbys and discover a few new favorites.

Best Breakthrough Brand
Epic
We’ve tried a handful of meat “snacks” since Paleo eating went mainstream, but this is the first product to get it right. The 100 percent grass-fed beef, turkey, and bison bars won us over with unique tastes, such as Bison Bacon Cranberry. Each offers 11–14 grams of protein from whole-food ingredients.Finalists
Love Grown Foods
Lyfe Kitchen

Best Mission-Driven brand
Endangered Species Chocolate
In addition to making mouthwatering confections, this company donates 10 percent of annual net profits (an unprecedented amount) to nonprofits focused on wildlife conservation and habitat preservation. We love the beautiful images of the animals we’re helping to save that are shown on the front of each bar.Finalists
Alter Eco
Two Degrees

Best Value
Bragg Liquid Aminos
Any truly natural kitchen keeps this classic on hand. The gluten-free, liquid-protein concentrate, made from non-GMO soybeans, kicks up flavor in soups, pasta sauce, or just about anything. Because dishes only need a drop or two, a bottle lasts for months.Finalists
Bob’s Red Mill Steel-Cut Oats
Eden Organic beans

Best Single Ingredient Use
Dang Coconut Chips
Made with toasted coconut meat and tossed with a touch of salt, these chips surprised us with their perfectly crisped texture and authentic flavor. Vegan, gluten free, and packing 3 grams fiber per serving, they’re dang near perfect.Finalists
Henry’s Humdingers spicy honey
Mamma Chia

Best Classic
Organic ValleyAmerican Singles
Forget those floppy, plastic-looking cheese slices we all grew up eating. These are made with real ingredients—organic milk, a little salt, and annatto for color—and will take you back to mom’s kitchen when tucked in a gooey grilled cheese sandwich.Finalists
Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread
Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna

Best Gluten-Free Cereal
Nature’s Path Qi’a
With the addition of milk (dairy or non), this cereal’s consistency is like a crunchy Cream of Wheat—but way tastier and better for you. Chia, hemp seeds, and buckwheat deliver an impressive 6 grams protein, 4 grams fiber, and a hefty dose of omega-3s. Go ahead, have a second bowl.Finalists
Bakery on Main Instant Apple Pie Oatmeal
Barbara’s Honey Rice Puffins

Specialty Diet Snacks

Best Raw Snack
Made in Nature Bananas
Rather than harvested green and chemically ripened, these USDA Organic bananas are picked at their flavor peak before drying. The perfectly sweet, sticky, and soft rounds are ideal for smoothies, cereal, or eating straight from the bag.Finalists
Brad’s Raw Leafy Kale Vampire Killer
Larabar Coconut Cream Pie

Best Vegan Snack
Earth Balance P.B. Popps
It didn’t take long for us to polish off a bag of these certified organic, non-GMO snacks. Salty-sweet peanut butter enrobes fluffy corn kernels, which are then rolled in crunchy gluten-free oats. Yes, please!Finalists
Beanfields NachoBean & Rice Chips
SeaSnax Classic Olive

Best Low- or Zero-calorie Drink
Bai 5 Limu Lemon
Coffee fruit in this stevia-sweetened beverage loads it up with antioxidants. Fun flavors are just sweet enough while still quenching thirst. And each serving has only
5 calories.Finalists
Dr. B’s Lemon Grass
Honest Fizz Orange Pop

Best Nut Butter
Once Again Cashew Butter
This certified organic spread tastes sinfully creamy, decadent, and rich. And contrary to their buttery texture, cashews actually have less fat than most nuts. They’re also a great source of copper and magnesium. We call it heavenly.Finalists
Artisana Organic Cacao Bliss
NuttZo Organic Omega-3 Seven Nut and Seed Butter